Variable-resistance electric-lamp switch.



T. c. MAPES & W. M. OWEN.

VARIABLE RESISTANCE ELECTRIC LAMP SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. Z1, 1912.

Patented May 6, 1913.

I lllrlllll .Illal UNITED STATES PATENT FFECE.

FRED C. MAPES AND XVILMER M. Ol/VEN, OF CHELSEA, MICHIGAN.

VARIABLE-RESISTANCE ELECTRIC-LAMP SW'ITCH.

Application ,tiled August 21, 1912.

Specification of Letters atent.

To all 'whom t may concern.' I

Be it known that we, FRED C. Marias. and VILMER M. OWEN, citizens of theUnited States of America, residing at Chelsea, in the county oflVashtenaw and State of Michigan, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Variable-Resistance Electric- Lamp Switches, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in electric lamp switches and hasparticular application to electric lamp switches of the variableresistance type.

ln carrying out the present invention, it is our purpose to provide avariable resistance electric lamp switch whereby the iiow of current tothe lamp may be regulated or controlled so that the filaments may beilluminated to the desired candle power.

Furthermore, we aim to provide a variable resistance electric lampswitch which will embody among other features a resistance coil and aspiral switch element rotatable relatively to the coil and adapted toengage the turns thereof to regulate the flow of current to the lamp.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forthin and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an electriclamp switch constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2is a perspective view of the switch, the casing and cap being removed.Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view through the same. Fig. 4E is atransverse view thereof. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of thespiral switch element.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing in detail, the numeral 1indicates the body of the switch which is constructed of suitableinsulating material and provided atits opposite ends withcircumferential flanges 2, 2, the body being formed with longitudinalribs 8 suitably spaced apart and is provided with a longitudinal groovell. Wrapped about the body 1 on the ribs thereof and overlying thegroove i therein is a resist-ance coil 5 having the turns thereofsuitably spaced apart. Secured to one end of the body.1 are two bindingposts 6, 6 one of which has connections with one terminal of the coil 5and one of the electric currentcarrying conductors of the electriccircuit, while the other of such binding posts has connections with theremaining wire T of the electr'c circuit and an electrode S arrangedwithin the body of insulating material 1 diagonally thereof andterminating centrally of the other end of the body in a contact head 9.Fastened to the last-mentioned end of the body by means of bolts 1G orthe like and connected to the free terminal of the resistance coil is asocket 11 provided at the edge adjacent. to the proximate end of thebody of insulating material .vith an inwardly extending lug 12 formedwith an aperture 13 coaxial with the groove in the body and vith anaperture in a lug 14C embedded in one wall of the groove and at the endof the groove opposite from the socket.

Rotatably mounted in the apertures in the lugs 12 and 141- is anactuating shaft 15 terminating beyond the end of the body of insulatingmaterial opposite from the socket in a manipulating handle 16. Securedto the actuating shaft 15 in any suitable manner as by Soldering or thelike, between the bearings of such shaft is a spiral switch element 17having one end connected to the shaft adjacent to the upper bearingwhile the opposite end thereof terminates adjacent to the lower bearingand at a point on the shaft approximately diametrically opposite the rstend, the spiral traversing but onehalf the circumference of theactuating shaft, as shown.

The bot y of insulating material and the various parts of the switchjust described are inclosed in a casing 19 lined with suitableinsulating material, while a cap Q0 incloses the end of the casingopposite the socket, the cap being provided with an opening throughwhich the manipulating handle 1G of the actuating shaft projects.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawing, the construction and mode of operation of our invention will bereadily apparent. Assuming the lamp to be in the socket 11 and it isdesired to cut the turns of the resistance coil out of the circuitsuccessively so that the current may be fed to the filaments of the lampgradually, the manipulating handle 15 is grasped by an operator androtated with the eifect to rotate the actuating shaft and so cut theturns of the resistance coil out of the circuit, the upper end of thespiral switch element engaging the upper turns of the resistance coil inthe initial -the turns of the wire out of the circuit as will be readilyunderstood. On the other hand, should it be desired to feed the fullamount of current to the lamp filaments, the actuating shaft is rotatedin a reverse direction whereby the lower end of the spiral engages thelast turn of the coil. To extinguish the lamp, the spiral switch elementis disengaged from the coil thereby breaking the circuit, incident tothe spiral being arranged upon but one-half the circumference of theactuating shaft.

It will be seen that we have provided a variable resistance electriclamp switch by means of which the electric current may be fed into the)filaments of the lamp in any desired quantity and whereby the lamp maybe illuminated to its full capacity and eX- tinguished.

lVhile wehave herein shown and described one preferred form of ourinvent-ion by way of illustration, we wish it to be understood that wedo not limit ourselves to the precise details of construction hereindescribed and delineated, as modification and variation may be madewithin the scope of ,the claims and without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

Ve claim:

l. An electric lamp switch comprising a body of insulating materialhaving a longitudinal groove therein, a resistance coil wrapped aboutthe body and overlying the groove, and a spiral switch element rotatablymounted within the groove and adapted to engage the turns of the coil toregulate the flow of current.

2. An electric lamp switch comprising a body of insulating materialhaving a longitudinal groove therein, a resist-ance coil wrapped aboutthe body and overlying the groove, a socket secured to one end of saidbody, a spiral switch element rotatably mounted within the groove andadapted to engage the turns of the coil to regulate the flow of current,means for rotating said switch element, and a casing inclosing the bodyof insulating material and the socket.

3. An electric lamp switch comprising a body of insulating materialhaving a longitudinal groove therein, a socket secured to one wall ofsaid body, an actuating shaft rotatably mounted within the groove, aInanipulating handle for said shaft, and a spiral switch elementconnected to the shaft and rotatable therewith to engage the turns ofthe coil successively to regulate the flow of current.

In testimony whereof we aifiX our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

FRED C. MAPES. WILMER M. Ol/VEN.

Vitnesses J. H. BOYD,

EARLE E. SCHUMACHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C.

